MAGICAL SURINAM

Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana lie on the northern border of South America. They me be of the smallest countries of South America but offer up a wealth of sights and some of the most incredible nature scenes on earth. They are a bird lovers paradise. Situated on the north-east corner of the South American continent, Guyana stretches 450 miles from its long Atlantic coastline into dense equatorial forest and the broad savannah of the Rupununi.

Guyana is dominated by many rivers, including the Demerara, the Berbice and the Essequibo, which provide essential highways into the rain forests and jungles of the interior.

Suriname is known for its pristine rainforest, exotic plants and animals, wild rapids, large rivers and stunning mountainous areas in the southern part of the country. Dark creeks run through the savannas where white sandy grounds contrast intensely with green trees while palms and huge forest giants in different sorts and colors decorate the magical panorama of the jungle.

With nearly 31,000 square miles (8 million hectares) of virgin forest, most classified as protected areas, and an exceptionally rich natural heritage consisting of some 1300 types of trees, 190 species of mammals, 720 species of birds, and 480 species of fish, French Guiana remains one of the last great wilderness areas to explore.

Overview

Day-1: Saturday - Arrival
Arrive in Suriname or Dutch Guiana former Dutch colony. Pick up and transfer to Eco Resort Inn.
Day-2: Sunday - Paramaribo City tour
After breakfast, a city tour of Paramaribo, a mosaic of diverse races and cultures. The cacophony of city life is muted by shaded, tree-lined avenues interspersed with seventeenth-century Dutch wooden structures alternated with modern hotels and office buildings. In a unique blend of architecture, cultures and religion, Paramaribo is one of the few places in the world where Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Jewish synagogues and Christian churches coexist peacefully side by side.(B)
Day-3: Monday -Commewijne Plantation.
Today we take you on the Commewijne River past Old Dutch colonial plantations, some of which are still in use. Visit the Nieuw Amsterdam museum; Marienburg, the oldest sugar-cane plantation in Suriname; Rust en Werk; the Thilapia fishery and Agricultural projects in Alkmaar, Katwijk and surroundings. Fishermen in the area pull in their shrimping nets and you will visit the fish-smokery. Overnight at Eco resort Inn. (BL)
Day-4: Tuesday - Jodensavanne & Blakawatra
This morning the tour will take us about 70 km to the South of Paramaribo, to Jodensavanne. A former Jewish settlement, it is named after the people who settled in this savanne area around 1650. This former Jewish village is where the ruins of the most ancient synagogue of North and South America lies and the graveyard can still be seen. The tour will continue with a visit to Blakawatra, not far from Jodensavanne. Blakawatra is a recreation resort with swimming facilities in the refreshing water of the creek which is rich in minerals. Overnight at Eco Resort Inn. (B).
Day-5: Wednesday -Brownsberg
The tour starts in Paramaribo with a 3-hour trip by bus. This nature reserve lies about 130 km from Paramaribo and can be reached in 2,5 hours. Spectacular views of the Afobaka power dam await. Walking paths will take you through the rainforest to beautiful waterfalls where you can enjoy beautiful views over the vast rainforests. A sturdy walk and climb through the forest will be a rewarding effort at one of the waterfalls in the area for a natural water massage or just relax on the mountaintop while you enjoy the unique jungle-sounds and a view over the power dam. Return in late afternoon to your hotel. (BL)
Day-6: Thursday - Coropina & Lelydrop
The Coropina creek lies in the savannah area of Zanderij, about 40km from Paramaribo. Depart in the morning by bus to 'Lelydorp's for a short visit to an orchid garden. Afterwards, the trip will continu to Gonggrijpbos where various types of trees, from different regions, have been planted by a forest ranger whose name was Gonggrijp. The tour will than take you to an Amerindian pottery at Billiton. Afterwards, a trip to a docking place along the Coropina creek where the tour will be continued by boat. There is unique flora and fauna of the area and you'll learn more about the medicinal use of plants and herbs. Lunch will be served in the midst of nature, along the Coropina creek, at "Camp Isidor." After lunch, a trip by boat to Bersaba, a former wood plantation, where you have the opportunity to swim and make a trip by dug-out canoe in the creek. In the afternoon, departure by bus for the return trip to Paramaribo (BL)
Day-7 & 8: Friday - Santigron & Saramaaca
This morning, a bus will take you to Uitkijk, approx. 45 minutes south from Paramaribo. From Uitkijk, the trip will continue by boat to Santigron. The woody area is yours to enjoy during this boat trip, which will last 1 hour. Upon arrival in the village, you meet the local people in the traditional manner. Afterwards you can enjoy a walk through the village with information about the current lifestyle of the Maroons. After lunch, you have the opportunity to relax in a hammock or swim along the banks of the Saramacca river. In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural performance of dancing by the children in the village, followed by a woodcarving exhibition.
Your stay overnight will be in open huts in hammocks with mosquito nets or in cabins with beds. The following day, after breakfast, visit the nearby Amerindian village Pikin Poika, via a walk through the rainforest. Meet the chief of the village and learn more about the culture and life style of the local people. Witness how tools are made from earthenware and weaving. After lunch, you have the opportunity to swim in the river, go fishing in the traditional manner or just relax in a hammock. (B)
Day-9: Sunday Paramaribo
Transfer to Paramaribo and to Eco Resort Inn for overnight. Afternoon if free to explore on own and shop for souvenirs. (B)
Day-10. Departure
Transfer to airport for your return flight. (B)

Fast Facts

When: All year

Best: November to March

Tour: 10 days

Hotels and Lodges

Detailed Itinerary

Day-1: Saturday - Arrival

Arrive in Suriname or Dutch Guiana former Dutch colony. Pick up and transfer to Eco Resort Inn.

Day-2: Sunday - Paramaribo City tour

After breakfast, a city tour of Paramaribo, a mosaic of diverse races and cultures. The cacophony of city life is muted by shaded, tree-lined avenues interspersed with seventeenth-century Dutch wooden structures alternated with modern hotels and office buildings. In a unique blend of architecture, cultures and religion, Paramaribo is one of the few places in the world where Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Jewish synagogues and Christian churches coexist peacefully side by side.(B)

Day-3: Monday -Commewijne Plantation.

Today we take you on the Commewijne River past Old Dutch colonial plantations, some of which are still in use.
Visit the Nieuw Amsterdam museum; Marienburg, the oldest sugar-cane plantation in Suriname; Rust en Werk; the Thilapia fishery and Agricultural projects in Alkmaar, Katwijk and surroundings.
Fishermen in the area pull in their shrimping nets and you will visit the fish-smokery. Overnight at Eco resort Inn. (BL)

Day-4: Tuesday - Jodensavanne & Blakawatra

This morning the tour will take us about 70 km to the South of Paramaribo, to Jodensavanne. A former Jewish settlement, it is named after the people who settled in this savanne area around 1650. This former Jewish village is where the ruins of the most ancient synagogue of North and South America lies and the graveyard can still be seen. The tour will continue with a visit to Blakawatra, not far from Jodensavanne. Blakawatra is a recreation resort with swimming facilities in the refreshing water of the creek which is rich in minerals. Overnight at Eco Resort Inn. (B).

Day-5: Wednesday -Brownsberg

The tour starts in Paramaribo
with a 3-hour trip by bus. This nature reserve lies about 130 km from Paramaribo and can be reached in 2,5 hours.
Spectacular views of the Afobaka power dam
await. Walking paths will take you through the rainforest to beautiful waterfalls where you can enjoy beautiful views over the vast rainforests. A sturdy walk and climb through the forest will be a rewarding effort at one of the waterfalls in the area
for a natural water massage or just relax on the mountaintop while you enjoy the unique jungle-sounds and a view over the power dam. Return in late afternoon to your hotel. (BL)

Day-6: Thursday - Coropina & Lelydrop

The Coropina creek lies in the savannah area of Zanderij, about 40km from Paramaribo.
Depart in the morning by bus to 'Lelydorp's for a short visit to an orchid garden. Afterwards, the trip will continu to Gonggrijpbos where various types of trees, from different regions, have been planted by a forest ranger whose name was Gonggrijp. The tour will than take you to an Amerindian pottery at Billiton. Afterwards, a trip to a docking place along the Coropina creek where the tour will be continued by boat.
There is unique flora and fauna of the area and you'll learn more about the medicinal use of plants and herbs. Lunch will be served in the midst of nature, along the Coropina creek, at "Camp Isidor." After lunch, a trip by boat to Bersaba, a former wood plantation, where you have the opportunity to swim and make a trip by dug-out canoe in the creek. In the afternoon, departure by bus for the return trip to Paramaribo (BL)

Day-7 & 8: Friday - Santigron & Saramaaca

This morning, a bus will take you to Uitkijk, approx. 45 minutes south from Paramaribo. From Uitkijk, the trip will continue by boat to Santigron. The woody area is yours to enjoy during this boat trip, which will last 1 hour. Upon arrival in the village, you meet the local people in the traditional manner. Afterwards you can enjoy a walk through the village with information about the current lifestyle of the Maroons. After lunch, you have the opportunity to relax in a hammock or swim along the banks of the Saramacca river. In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural performance of dancing by the children in the village, followed by a woodcarving exhibition.

Your stay overnight will be in open huts in hammocks with mosquito nets or in cabins with beds. The following day, after breakfast, visit the nearby Amerindian village Pikin Poika, via a walk through the rainforest.
Meet the chief of the village and learn more about the culture and life style of the local people.
Witness how tools are made from earthenware and weaving. After lunch, you have the opportunity to swim in the river, go fishing in the traditional manner or just relax in a hammock. (B)

Day-9: Sunday Paramaribo

Transfer to Paramaribo and to Eco Resort Inn for overnight. Afternoon if free to explore on own and shop for souvenirs. (B)

Day-10. Departure

Transfer to airport for your return flight. (B)

End of services

What's Included

Price includes

Airport transfers by private vehicle
Three four or five star hotels with breakfast
All sightseeing tours, entrance fees, guide, transportation
Guide, their wages, insurance and expenses

Price Excludes

International flights, departure taxes and any excess baggage charges.
Mandatory travel and medical insurance
Tips, baggage and porterage
Expenses of a personal nature such as bottled drinks, mineral water, morning and afternoon teas etc laundry etc.
Extra expenses and/of additional days caused due to unexpected events (such a flight delays, porterage because of land slides and other natural events.)
Entry Visa
if applicable Tips and gratuities
Single supplements if applicable